Seal



Feb. 6,1934.

M. B. BEHRMAN SEAL Filed Sept. 3, 1930 Patented Feb. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES SEAL Marcus B. Behrman, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application September 3, 1930. Serial No. 479,488

2 Claims.

My present invention relates generally to sealing devices, and has particular reference to a seal of the unopenable type, i. e., one which when closed cannot again be opened except by multilation thereof.

Devices of the character to which my invention relates are customarily and advantageously employed inconnectionwith the saleof merchandise, and, more especially, for the purpose of permanently and irremovably attaching a tag or the like to such merchandise so that it cannot be removed without detection. A seal of the present character may, for example, be employed with a string or tie member adapted to attach a tag or the like to a garment. Or, in the binding of packages or the like, the opposite ends of a tie member may be permanently united in association with a seal of the present character so that an opening of the package, necessarily requires that the seal be destroyed or mutilated.

Since the purpose of seals of this character is thus to prevent tampering with goods, or removal of tags or the like, without positive detection, it is not surprising that efforts, frequent-' 5 1y successful, have been made to pry open, and

subsequently re-close, such seals.

It is a general object of my present invention to provide a seal of the foregoing character which is so constructed that when it is once closed a re-opening thereof, without mutilating or destroying it, either in whole or in part, is extremely diflicult, if not entirely impossible.

One of the features of my invention lies in providing a device which has a portion of deformable non-resilient metal or similar material, the device being so constructed that when the seal is closed the deformable portion is automatically forced to change its shape in a predetermined manner, so that it is practically an impossibility to restore the same into an openable condition. Briefly, my device consists of two opposed cup-shaped members, one of which is adapted to telescope into the other, thereby forming a chamber. The outer member has an inwardlyturned rim, while the inner member has an outwardly-turned rim. In accordance with my present invention, I provide means in association with the outer member whereby the rim of the inner member is automatically and forcibly caused to spread as the seal is closed, so that the two rims will be constrained to interlock in a positive manner.

Another feature of my invention lies in providing a flange upon the inner cup member so as to conceal the interlocking rims when the seal is closed.

Other features of my invention will be more clearly understood after this specification has been read, and reside in the construction and arrangement of the several parts of mydevice whereby the advantageous characteristics illustratively set forth hereinbefore are attained.

I achieve the foregoing objects, and such other objects as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, in the manner illustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawing, wherein- 3 Figure 1 is a perspective view of a seal of the present character embodying the features of my present invention, the seal being shown in its 711 normal open position; 1

Figure 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of the seal of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross-section taken substantially along the line 33 of Figure 2; z

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic cross-section showing the manner in which the parts cooperate when the seal is closed; and I Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4,showing the relationship of the parts when the seal is closed. a J

In the illustrated embodiment, the entire seal is made of an integral blank of metal, preferably brass or the like, and consists of two opposed cup-shaped members, each of which is 3.5171 substantially cylindrical. The upper member has a base 10 and a side wall composed of the sections 11. Each section 11 has at its end an outwardly-turned lip or hook 12, these lips constituting a composite outwardly-turned rim for the cup-shaped member. The base 10 is extended outwardly so as to form the doubled-back flange portion 13, the purpose of which will be presently described. I

The other cup-shaped member has a base 14 and a side wall 15, the latter having an inwardly-turned rim formed by the separate sections or tongues 16. Y

The two cup-shaped members are preferably integrally connected by a strip of bendable material 17 extending from the rim of the lower member of Figure 1 to the flange 13 of the base 10 of the upper member of Figure 1.

The parts are so arranged and proportioned that when the upper member is brought downwardly into telescopic relationship within the lower member, the hooks 12 will skirt the inwardly-turned tongues 16, as shown most clearly by the dotted lines of Figure 4. In accordance with my invention, I provide an inward depression in the base 14 of the lower member which constitutes a wedge-shaped abutment adapted to be, encountered by the hooks 12 when the seal is closed. More particularly, it is to be noted that the base 14 of the outer member is forced to project inwardly so as to provide a conical projection or abutment within the outer member, this abutment having the upwardly-converging side walls 18 and the substantially flat top Wall 19.

When the device is used, the two ends of a string or the like may be laid across the outer cup member so that when the seal is closed they Will be firmly engaged and locked within the chamber formed by the two portions of the 'seal. Pressure upon the two members, will then advance the inner cup member into the outer cup member, so that the hooks 12 will encounter the beveledwalls 18. Since the inner cup member is made of deformable and non-resilient material, further pressure upon it will cause the abutment on the base of the outer member to wedge its way into the inner member, thereby forcibly spreading the side wall of the inner member into the position shownin Figure 5.

In Figure 5, it is to be noted that the two parts have been forced together to the maximum possible amount, the flange 13 resting upon the inWardly-turhed'rim of the outer member. The side wall sections 11 have been forcibly spread into an interlocked relationship with the inwardly-turned rim of the outer member.

Any attempted reopening of the seal, without mutilation thereof, will be rendered ex-' tremely difiicult, if not impossible, by the fact that, in the'first place, the flange 13 prevents access to the interlocking rims; and, in the sec- 0nd place, any attempted inward manipulation of the side wall of the inner member 'will be obstructed by the wedge-shaped abutment provided' on'the inside of the outer member. Furthermore, the walls of the inner member being of deformable a'nd non-resilient material, they will have been permanently deformed into the spread relationship of Figure 5 and will resist any efforts to restore them to the normal condition of the other figures. Also, unless the interlocking rims can be caused to disengage around the entire periphery, no possible separation ofthe members, except by destruction of the seal, is possible.

It will be obvious that changes in the details herein described and illustrated for the purpose of explaining the nature of my invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. It is therefore intended that these details be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. An unopenable seal comprising a pair of opposed telescopable cups, the outer one having an inwardly-turned rim, the inner one having a non-resilient, deformable, outwardly-turned rim, and a depression in the base of the outer cup providing a wedge-shaped abutment adapted to enter the inner cup when the seal is closed and extending laterally outwardly beyond the inwardly turned rim of the outer cup, said abutment forcibly and permanently deforming said inner cup into a spread condition so as to produce an interlock between said rims.

2. An unopenable seal comprising a pair of opposed telescopable cups, the outer one having an inwardly doubled-back rim, the inner one having a readily-deformable, non-resilient, outwardly doubled-back rim, said last-named rim being slit into separate tongues, and a conical wedgelike projection integrally formed upon the base of the outer cup and of such a width at its lower portion as to have such lower portion extend outwardly beyond the rim of the inner cup and 1 adapted to enter the inner cup when the seal is closed so as to spread said tongues permanently outwardly into interlocking relationship with the inwardly doubled-back rim of the outer cup.

MARCUS BEHRMAN. 

